Everybody likes to eavesdrop. Donna sits with prominent women she knows, loves and/or admires, gleaning insights and asking those need-to-know questions.
DONNA: What’s your relationship with fashion?
ASHLEY: “I’m definitely a lover of all things fashion. My personal style is constantly evolving, from growing up a beach-bum in Jacksonville, Florida to learning how to embrace couture fashion on the red-carpet while remaining true to who I am. To date, my favorite fashion moment was this year’s MET Gala. I have never felt so beautiful and am eternally thankful to Donna for that memorable moment in my career.”
DONNA: If you could meet any woman, living or dead, who would she be and why?
ASHLEY: “Audrey Hepburn would top my list. I’m in awe of her talent, her timeless sense of style, and her devotion to charity. She’s someone I look up to tremendously and would have loved to meet.”
DONNA: Who or what inspires you creatively?
ASHLEY: “Everything! I can be inspired by a person, a place I’ve visited, a book I’ve read. For example, Alice Cullen's style was inspired by Jackie O and Audrey Hepburn.”
DONNA: What’s the best thing about getting older?
ASHLEY: “The best thing about getting older is that you really start to find yourself and understand who you are. I’m in my 20’s and every year I grow more confident in my own skin.”
DONNA: Do you have a personal motto you live by?
ASHLEY: “Be true to yourself. Especially in this industry, where there are constant pressures, I think that’s very important. I’m grateful to my parents for raising me to believe that I have no one else’s standards to live up to but my own.”
DONNA: What do you treasure most in life?
ASHLEY: “My family and friends. I treasure them most in my life and know how blessed I am to have those relationships.”
MORE AWARDS DETAILS: The program is filling out for Monday’s CFDA Fashion Awards. Sofia Coppola is presenting Marc Jacobs with the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award; Jessica Alba will hand the Founders Award to Hal Rubenstein, and Grace Coddington is presenting Arthur Elgort with his Board of Directors’ Special Tribute Award. Karolina Kurkova, meanwhile, will take to the stage to hand out the three Swarovski Awards. The audience, too, will feature a few stars. Kirsten Dunst is coming with Patrik Ervell, Ashley Greene with Michael Kors, and Kerry Washington with Calvin Klein Collection’s Francisco Costa. Meanwhile, Liv Tyler will attend with Proenza Schouler and Chloë Sevigny with MAC Cosmetics.
